Sushi Star — Restaurant in Citrus Heights

This was the most disappointing sushi restaurant and dining experience I've had in Sacramento. For context, there were 4 of us, my wife and two children. My wife is a career bartender/server/trainer at a steakhouse, so we're super chill and easy with servers and restaurants. We get it, bad nights happen. But they can be corrected by a little bit of hospitality and the eventual arrival of good food. There will be none of that here.

For the tl;dr - Drive a mile up the street to Bonsai Sushi, you'll get better service, MUCH larger portions, and better food.

The whole experience started with red flags. The restaurant was full so we sat at the sushi bar. The sushi chef didn't acknowledge us, there was none of the usual hospitality one would expect for sitting at the bar. The servers were very invested in moving my family from the bar to the table, which is fine. Mind you, we eat out at sushi a lot, sitting at the bar is no big deal... but fine, all good.

We ordered our appetizers, food, and drinks. Some appetizers arrived, some didn't. Pretty sure one of them got shipped to another table in the chaos. The other table's order got to us like 20-30 minutes later.

After the first touch, the servers wouldn't make eye contact with me. All I wanted was to order a second beer, and it wasn't like I was slamming them down. Eventually I was able to eye one into coming over and I ordered another beer, at this point I also reminded them of the missing apps. That was legit like 45+ minutes later.

The restaurant was churning out to go orders while we sat waiting, along with other the customers. (Recommendation: Quote longer to-go times and take care of the house first.)

Slightly over an hour after ordering (for SUSHI!) our food arrived. The hand roll wasn't a cone, looked nothing like the picture, it was a small roll in crispy seaweed like you would buy at the store, not soft, and it was a roll! A tiny roll! Like the size of your finger and thumb together. It was SMALL! Which was a theme for the night.

As our sushi rolls started arriving they too were small, super tiny. Yet the prices were full on Mikuni prices. And by small I mean between the size of a quarter and a half dollar. So small that one of my 11-13 year old girls could have polished one alone and still been hungry. My wife opted to not eat so the kids could get enough food. (and I didn't clue in until after cuz I too was ravenous...don't judge me!) None of the rolls looked like the pictures.

The food was alright but the wait, the portion size, the price, the service, and the experience... It was terrible~ We will never go back.

Look, 1.5 miles (5 min) up Sunrise is a place called Bonsai Sushi. It's amazing. The portions are the same price but like 3x the size. The food is delicious. The servers are friendly and take care of you. Go there....

Awesome family ran sushi restaurant! We love ordering off their specials menu, the ankimo, lobster roll, and fresh oysters (pictured) are always great. Other specials currently include Santa Barbara uni, yakisoba, and steak, lobster, and scallop hibachi for around $22.

I recommend the hamachi kama (pictured) appetizer, around $15 for 2 pieces which is a great deal. The skin is crispy, and the fish is meaty and moist. We always order it, sometimes Togo and it reheats great in an air fryer.

Our favorite rolls are the Sushi Star, Fire Star, Salmon Blossom, and if you like crab, their Snow crab roll is SO GOOD. The snow crab roll (pictured, missing a piece because it's just so good...) isn't too fancy but I think they use real crab, and the taste is just so so clean, I love the texture, and it's 10x better than any Krab roll.

Hamachi sashimi and otoro sashimi (pictured) are always on point. The sushi chef does a great job with presentation and cuts.

You can call ahead to reserve omakase.

The service is always great, but not the fastest depending on how busy it is. Everything has always been worth the wait and I recommend it regardless! Again, family ran and you can tell they put a lot of effort into the food and art of sushi! So glad to have a staple sushi restaurant in citrus heights!

Edited to add review of omakase experience!!! October 2022

Splurged on their omakase for our anniversary. $150/pp for about 12 courses, call a few days ahead to reserve. The chef did call after I made my reservation to confirm any allergies and preferences, of which we had none. Everything was AMAZING and really showcased the chefs skills and artistry. Highly recommended for something new and unique, and come hungry! Portions were very generous.

Courses included miso soup, ankimo with scallops, oyster shooters with uni and ikura, chawanmushi with uni, amaebi, and ikura, assorted sashimi in a beautiful ice sculpture, more sashimi with the fish remains fried for display (this was so beautiful y'all), geoduck sashimi, Kobe beef tataki (sooooo savory and delicious), broiled fish, assorted nigiri, deluxe hand rolls with toro, uni, crab, and ikura, and mochi served in an ice bowl topped with spun sugar threads.

I'm still drooling as I look over these photos. This was not a cheap meal, but I'm so thrilled to have an authentic and delicious omakase option without having to trek downtown or...

Hands down the best sushi in citrus heights, and I have been to yiu marlu. Mom and pop (japanese) place.

Sushi is amazingly fresh, as evidenced by the subtlety of their lemon sushi, which delights, not overpowers. The fish eggs present in many of their dishes pops with satisfying crunch, not mushy like most places (stale or wet).

Service is also a stand out here. We have been going here since first week they opened. Each "premium" takeout dish was lovingly decorated with a lotus leaf (edible) and packaged immaculately. For anyone who has been to japan, this is their thing. They don't do the lead anymore, but it was the essence of sushi: food as art.

And I was a bit tickled with their odd ball selection of saki, odd fruit drinks, etc all in single serve size. Try the crackling rice drink! Seeing my curiosity, the owner/chef offered me one, free of charge. Buddy, you just made a customer for life. I gave him $5 for it, just the same because of the gesture. And tipped them $30 on a $100 takeout order. Again, all very Japanese, humble, kind.

We order from there once per month. The food is always top notch, if not THE best. Service is not SUPER fast, but quick, and careful EVERY time. Prices are reasonable to good. Nothing expensive considering the quality and care.

Am I raving? Yeah, because they deserve it.

They have a tiny little place for the moment, not the best, in the back, but ample parking, and we have eaten in. Service was decent. The mom gets a bit overwhelmed being by herself, checking out, and to go orders. They are both wonderful people making great stuff, well worth what little time it costs.

I have had sushi in Japan and in Las Vegas, where it is fiercely competitive. These folks knock it out...